AN: Here we are, another piece to this story!
I hope you enjoy! Please don't forget to let me know what you think!
111
"I don't care about a wedding, Jean-Luc," Beverly said. She made sure to put enough force behind the words that Jean-Luc couldn't doubt her sincerity or think that she was simply saying that to appease him in some way.
They had happily sacrificed a few hours of sleep, throughout the night and early morning, to spend time in each other's arms. Beverly was tired. Her body felt heavy. Her eyes felt dry and scratchy. In spite of all that, she didn't regret her choices at all. She would gladly sacrifice sleep for the warm comfort and the pleasure that she'd experienced celebrating their engagement.
"Is that what you wanted?" Jean-Luc asked, watching as Beverly chewed through a bite of her breakfast. Wesley had been invited to breakfast, but he was fully aware of what Jean-Luc had asked her the night before and, perhaps, he thought they needed to have breakfast alone, because he'd cancelled, saying that he had something else to do. Beverly hadn't pressed him, and she'd only laughed when he offered a "congratulations, Mom" without asking if it was in order. Beverly hummed in the affirmative to answer Jean-Luc's question about her breakfast choices, and he laughed. "I've never specifically requested tart strawberry jam before."
"Me either," Beverly said. "But I'm glad the replicator was at least willing to try. Jean-Luc, if you want a wedding, then we'll have one. Whatever you want is fine with me."
"What I want is to be married to you," Jean-Luc said. "How that happens is of truly very little consequence. I want you to be very honest with me, though, about what you want. I don't want you to feel—cheated."
"Jean-Luc, I've been married once before," Beverly said. "You know. I've done the…white dress and flowers." She laughed and shook her head. "If my son's going to give me away, and our daughter is going to accompany me down the aisle, I don't think I can wear white with a straight face."
"It's a tired tradition anyway," Jean-Luc said, absentmindedly swiping his hand in the air like he was wiping away the idea.
Jean-Luc was a very traditional man—and some of his traditions could, possibly, be described as absolutely archaic—but he was open-minded, too, when there were a few that needed to be tweaked or tossed out entirely.
"I would be content to marry here, on the ship, with our closest friends around us," Beverly said. "We could choose a time to have a reception—or something—for the entire crew and complement to stop by, at their leisure, and congratulate you."
"Us," Jean-Luc amended quickly.
"You know what I mean," Beverly said. "Most would come for you, more than me, and I'm not offended by that."
"Would that truly make you happy, though?" Jean-Luc asked.
"I meant what I said. Just like you—the wedding doesn't matter to me. What matters is the marriage, and that's about the two of us, not the show."
Jean-Luc smiled softly at her. He reached a hand over and squeezed her shoulder. She sat near him at the table, not wanting to put the entire table between them. She preferred, this morning, to feel his knee bump against hers. She liked sitting close enough that there was no strain to reach, if she wanted, for no reason at all, to touch his hand while they shared breakfast together.
"I want to give you everything you want," he said, simply and sincerely.
"I'd say you're off to a pretty good start," Beverly teased. "Marry me?"
He smiled.
"If only I could be so lucky," he teased back. "When?"
Beverly shrugged her shoulders.
"We have two weeks before we return to pick up the Bendalite delegation. Another—week and a half, round trip, to return for the work on the ship and R and R. Let's get married before R and R."
"And, then, we can have a proper honeymoon," Jean-Luc said.
"We have to tell our families," Beverly said. "We'll have R and R—they're going to expect to see us." Jean-Luc's face fell. "And there's Wesley…"
"He's unlikely to want to accompany his mother on her honeymoon," Jean-Luc said. Beverly made a face at him. "He's very much enjoying his growing independence, Beverly, and looking forward to more."
"I can't leave him alone for the whole of R and R," Beverly said. "He'll want to visit Nana, but…I don't know if there will be enough for him to want to stay the whole time."
"We'll have at least two or three weeks while they go over everything with a fine-toothed comb. We'll go to visit my family," Jean-Luc said. "Wesley can come with us, or he can go to visit with your grandmother. Then, we'll visit your grandmother and, perhaps, there will be enough time for at least a single weekend spent wherever we would like to celebrate our marriage together. Wesley can accompany us. Surely, he won't mind a trip somewhere and separate—but very nearby—accommodations."
Beverly knew that Jean-Luc had some troubles with his brother, though she didn't know all the details. She was certain that she would find out more, especially as the time drew near for Jean-Luc to introduce her to his family. She was sure those troubles were at least part of the reason that he looked a little sour over the idea of spending his R and R with his family.
"I would like that," Beverly said. "All of that."
"Where would you like to go?" Jean-Luc asked. "With—whatever time we're not visiting family?"
Beverly smiled to herself. She thought that, maybe, Jean-Luc needed the promise of something nice, which didn't involve family, to get him through the time they would have to spend with family members.
"We have time to discuss it," Beverly said. "Think about some places you might like. Give me some choices, Jean-Luc, that appeal to you. It doesn't have to be today."
"That only leaves one more question," Jean-Luc said. Beverly only needed to raise her eyebrows at him to prompt him to continue. "When do you want to get married?"
Beverly smiled at him.
"I'll marry you today, Jean-Luc, if that's what you want," Beverly said. "Talk to Will, since he'll likely officiate the service, and decide. You give me a time, and I promise I'll be there."
Jean-Luc reached and took her hand. She let him have it, and she smiled at him when he kissed it.
"The sooner, the better," he said. "As far as I'm concerned."
"You won't hear me complain," Beverly assured him.
111
"The conflict on Merobi II is between the two political factions that control the planet. They have worked together peaceably for years, but recently a small group has gone somewhat radical in one of the political factions, and they decided that there needed to be some serious changes in the way the government functions. They have decided that the best way to go about seeing those changes come to light is through more forceful means."
"Violence," Will offered. Jean-Luc nodded. "Are we being sent to take sides in the conflict?" Will asked.
"Not at all," Jean-Luc said. "Quite on the contrary. We have been asked to talk with the individuals in charge of each group and to attempt to help aid them in negotiations, but the Federation is not siding with either faction. Counselor Troi will attend those discussions. In addition, there have been some reports and requests regarding the medical care available to some of the wounded. When we left the Bendalite delegation yesterday, some of you are aware that we restocked some of our supplies. Some of those supplies are meant to go to Merobi II to aid both sides in recovery, especially since the Federation hopes to see them come to a peaceable agreement."
"What if no agreement can be reached?" Worf asked.
"We have been ordered to assist in negotiations and in medical care," Jean-Luc said. "The limitations of our involvement have been very clearly detailed to me. If we are unable to bring about any significant change within the parameters that have been set for us, we'll leave the situation, and the Federation will choose how they wish to proceed from there."
Beverly sat listening to the back and forth. She'd already heard all of this, having listened as Jean-Luc had talked it over with her and worked it out for himself after breakfast. She had been personally briefed by Starfleet, as well, on the conflict, since she would be leading a small team to go down to the surface and help to make sure that the medical supplies they were bringing got divided fairly and put to good use.
Beverly was, at the moment, simply enjoying the fact that the briefing with the Alpha shift officers meant that she was allowed a small brake from Mersuka's company. She'd managed, so far, to avoid the Bendalite youth for the entire morning, and she was hoping to at least get in an hour or so longer of quiet peace. Deanna had already stopped her at the door to the conference room, long enough to say that she hoped to talk to her when they were done here, and Beverly had the suspicion that she knew exactly what Deanna wanted to talk about. Though she was possibly imagining it, she thought Deanna looked far more tired than she generally looked when there was no active conflict taking place in which she was involved.
"Without unforeseen circumstances," Data offered, "we will be arriving at Merobi II tomorrow at approximately 09:00 hours."
Beverly was drawn out of her daydream by Data's voice.
"Very well," Jean-Luc said. "Until then, it's business as usual. For those who will be arranging teams, you have the day to take care of anything you need. Please speak to myself or Commander Riker about personnel and shift changes."
Everyone voiced their understanding and agreement. There was a slight raise in the noise level of the room as bodies started to move—everyone anticipating that their captain's next words would dismiss them all to get to their jobs.
"There's just one more thing," Jean-Luc said. Everyone seemed to stop suddenly—practically freezing in place. "If you will allow me…" He didn't have to ask them that. Everyone settled back down into their seats. Their demeanor had changed, though, as though everyone could tell that this was something more pleasant than a briefing on the conflict that they were about to see firsthand. "I feel as though Doctor Crusher and I have required your attention a great deal recently, but…I hoped that I could take this opportunity, while we're all gathered together, to share something personal with those of you who are, arguably, those we consider practically family."
Beverly could see smiles start to spread across lips. She smiled, too. They may not say it all the time and, arguably, they didn't say it enough, but they all felt the same way.
"Beverly?" Jean-Luc said, holding his hand out in her direction. She understood what he wanted. She stood up from her chair, took his hand, and let him guide her to his side. She felt the pressure of his hand on the small of her back, and she stopped herself from closing her eyes—an almost instinctive movement—to enjoy the touch more. "You are all very aware of the impending arrival of our little one in approximately twenty weeks."
There were some broader smiles, particularly from Will and Deanna, and there was a chorus of humming to go with several nods.
"We have, perhaps, done things somewhat out of order of the traditional set of expectations," Jean-Luc said. "But—last night, I asked Beverly to marry me and, despite what could possibly be seen as good judgement on her part, she agreed." He paused and allowed for the chorus of congratulations and a few claps. "We have decided to have a very small and simple wedding—nothing more than an exchange of vows, really—very soon. We would, of course, love for all of you to be present."
"When will it be?" Deanna asked.
"I will have to talk to Commander Riker about officiating the ceremony," Jean-Luc said as a response.
"After dinner this evening," Will said with a broad smile. "Before you have a chance to change your mind."
Everyone laughed, and Jean-Luc caught Beverly's hand and squeezed it.
"Rest assured, I won't change my mind," he said. "However—we might want to do it quickly enough that Doctor Crusher doesn't have time to change hers."
Beverly felt her face grow warm at the quick wink she caught from him and the laughter that followed from those gathered around the table. Jean-Luc's smile was genuine, it was broad, and it was contagious. Everyone in the room seemed to not only appreciate it, but to absorb some of its energy and radiance. The room was suddenly filled with a palpable good humor.
"After dinner would be fine with me," Beverly offered in Will's direction. She raised her eyebrows at Jean-Luc to ask him if he was joking. He half-shrugged his shoulders. Beverly's pulse picked up at the realization that this might very well be a reality. She might actually marry Jean-Luc today, in a small and private ceremony, surrounded by those aboard the ship to whom they were closest. "We'll have to prepare things for tomorrow…" she said.
"I can help you," Deanna offered. "It's no problem for me to rearrange some appointments. I'll help prepare everything for the medical team to be ready to go to the surface. And then, I can help the bride choose a dress."
"We're not doing anything too—flashy," Beverly said.
"Just flashy enough, Beverly!" Deanna declared.
"What do you think, Number One? Will we have time to arrange everything and leave time for the exchanging of vows in a simple ceremony?"
"We'll finish with enough time for the most important part," Will teased. "The wedding night."